Re: Cutting up a drum?

If you wan't the lid out, it can be done in about 10-15 minutes with a hammer and a sharp cold chisel. If you want the drum in half (either direction), an angle grinder on edge, or a jigsaw would be my tool of choice.

Carbon arc gouging can be hard on a machine. Personally, I wouldn't feel good about using with a machine less than 200 amps, and a good duty cycle, unless there was no alternative.

A recip saw with a metal-cutting blade would be the fastest. But I'm not sure if the drum steel is thick enough. Too thin and it will flutter with the recip action. In that case, the angle grinder with a .045 wheel is best. Bob

If you have access to a cutting torch, turn the tip so that it is almost parallel to the surface. MOVE FAST along a soapstone line. You will get a smooth cut that seals itself. Sometimes, the cut runs an inch or more in front of the end of the tip.

Other than that, grinder, sawzall, circular saw with metal cutting blade, etc. But then you have a sharp edge to deal with. You can then MIG weld some small rod on the sharp edge, or just finish it off so it is not a razor.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Cutting drums. Lots of fun.

steve

PS: If you use mechanical means, don't forget earplugs.

The best way I have found is using an air chisel. If you ride it around the inside rim correctly you have a burr free barrel. If you burn it with a carbon you will need to clean up with a grinder. Another trick is to bang the grapes flat by bucking with a large hammer on the outside of the rim and hammering the irregularities down with another hammer from the inside. Randy

Can I do arc-gouging with this setup, or is it going to end up a complete mess?

Barry Lennox

OK thanks for all the advice, I bought some metal-cutting blades for my Bosch recip saw, then cleaned up the edge with an angle grinder. Worked good, if noisy and I'm still vibrating a little!

Barry Lennox